Transport Upgrade on EMM Labs CDSA
Cascais -- Wed, 08/26/2009 - 05:51
I have owned an EMM Labs CDSA player since 2007 which performs flawlessly and is very enjoyable. However the company has replaced the original Philips transport with a German model which is supposed to be more robust and sound better. I am tempted to have my player 'upgraded' but am hesitant since most of the comments I have read are vague or ambivalent about the improvement to be expected from the new transport. In addition, the modification is quite expensve, and I wonder how much difference a transport can make in the reproduction of a CD. Currently I am working on the old adage 'If it ain't broke don't fix it,' but would appreciate any comments from anyone who has made the change of transports on the CDSA.
I've not heard the original CDSA, but the newer one, with the german transport sounds wonderful.
The problem with the Phillips drive is not with the sound, but with its reliability (or lack of!). I think that was the main reason EMM Labs switched drives.
Zeb is correct; the original Philips drive had mechanical problems. If yours works fine, I would not upgrade. I don't think it offers a sound-quality improvement (although I don't know that for certain, not having heard it).
Thanks very much for your comments. I agree with you about the reliability problem with the Philips transport as the original transport on my machine was noisy on certain discs and was replaced. The replacement is quiet and works well, so I will hang onto it.
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